Entone Technologies has taken the wraps off a handful of new video-focused IP-based CPE as well as a new network interface device (NID) that attaches to the outside of a home.
The new IP video gateways include a new, HD/MPEG4 version of its existing multistream Hydra product, which has been available for about a year and a half, as well as new single-stream gateways called Magi HD and Amulet HD. All three support both MPEG2 and MPEG4, and can deliver both standard- and high-definition programming.
The Hydra HD IP video gateway provides three streams of fully interactive IPTV services; includes an on-broad ADSL2+ modem; and can provide such services as call waiting, caller ID and more, said Ian Jefferson, Entone’s vice president of business development. Magi and Amulet are both on the same technology, but unlike the Hydra can serve only one TV, he said.
Hydra HD and Magi HD provide an integrated HomePNA 3.0 interface for high-speed IP service over existing in-home coax and phone lines. They also include an integrated ATSC tuner for receiving over-the-air broadcast. Magi HD includes a built-in QAM tuner to decode signals from cable TV providers. The products support HDMI outputs with HDCP protection for digital video and Dolby Digital output for multi-channel audio systems.
Entone’s HD CPE products, available now, are compatible with middleware from Microsoft TV, Minerva, and Myrio, as well as digital rights management software from Irdeto, Latens, NDS, Verimatrix, and Widevine.
In September, Entone expects to make commercially available its NID, called Crescendo, said Jefferson. He explained that Crescendo will enable telcos to move beyond the network demarcation point at the side of the house to get into home networking, which is a “massive market” today owned by such consumer electronics giants as Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc. Crescendo was designed to allow service providers to separate different voice, video and data streams before they get inside the home so telcos can then “own” the network in the home.
Jefferson said Entone feels it is uniquely positioned to outfit telcos with home networking gear like Crescendo and in-home CPE given this new environment is based on IP and Entone is an all-IP outfit.
Entone also sells encoding gear, a network-based video recorder server and content management software called Armada. The company – which provides network-based IPTV solutions for PCCW of Hong Kong, which has the world’s largest IPTV deployment – recently announced its 50th customer. But while some larger vendors OEM the Entone products, the company works direct mainly with tier 2 and 3 service providers today.
Entone www.entone.com
